Xylophone



Jan. 4, 1949. PACKHQSE'R 2,458,193

XYLOPHONE Filed Aug. 11, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Patented Jan. 4, 1949 UNITED STATES.

PATENT OFFICE XYLOPHONE Joseph A. Packhciser, Chicago, Ill.

Application August 11, 1945, Serial No. 610,239

1 Claim. 1 This invention relates to new and useful improvements in musical instruments. More specifically the invention relates to a Xylophone, and

has for its primary and principal object the provision of an improved construction of the character hereinafter described, which will be highly efiicient in use and economical in manufacture.

Among the salient objects of the invention is to provide a Xylophone having the musical members or bars suspended in a manner such that the maximum richness of tone may be obtained.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a Xylophone having a construction which facilitates ready and expeditious mounting of the musical bars in position with respect to each other.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a Xylophone which will be highly ornamental in character, thus resulting in the maximum appeal to the observer, yet without complicating the construction or increasing the cost of manufacture thereof.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists in the novel combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawings showing the preferred form of construction, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective View of a Xylophone emi bodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a cross sectional detail view taken substantially on line 22 of Fig. 1 looking to the right as viewed in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional detail view of the same, taken substantially on line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional detail View taken substantially on line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a perspective View illustrating a modifled form of construction.

The drawings illustrate the preferred form of construction by which the several objects of my invention are accomplished.

In this respect, [0 and II indicate oppositely disposed side bars or rails. These side bars or rails are substantially channel-shaped in cross section, as best shown in Fig. 4, and provide cutout portions I2 equally spaced from each other by medial bars l3. These bars l3 on opposite vertical edges thereof provide inwardly turned flanges l4, and these flanges are perforated as at l5, with the perforations of one flange spaced with respect to each other and in line with the perforations of the other flange.

The bars l0 and l I have their opposite end portions connected to a base 51. This base I! may be in the form of a flat piece of material bent to provide feet elements is and opposite upstanding arms I!) to which are attached the bars I!) and II as. at I5, the medial portion 20 of the base ll providing a support for an ornamental structure 2| connected thereto as at 22. This structure 2i may be of any approved form which will enhance the ornamental appearance of the Xylophone.

To these opposite end portions of the bars l0 and H are also attached as at 23, side frame members 23, and each of these frame members 23 may be provided with inwardly turned lips or extensions 24 which overlap adjacent end portions 25 of the musical bars 26. These musical bars 26 are preferably tubular in form and formed of such material as will best suit the purpose. The opposite end portions 25 of the musical bars, which bars are preferably formed of fragile material, such as glass or the like are protected by the portions 24 from being struck by the striker (not shown) or from otherwise being accidentally chipped. The longitudinal wall portions of the frame members 23 provide an obstruction preventing the displacement lengthwise of the musical bars from their supported position with respect to the bars 10 and I I.

One of the objects of the invention, as before stated, is to support these musical bars or tubes in a manner such that the maximum richness of tone may be accomplished. This may result from the fact that the musical bars or tubes are resiliently supported in a manner within the spaces [2 such that they have free vibration when struck and at no time contact with or engage the metallic or other portions of the Xylophone structure and are so spaced from the Xylophone framework as not to transmit by sound wave the sound emitting from the musical bars when thus struck.

In the preferred form of construction, I accomplish this by providing a sensitive suspension structure comprising rubber lengths 21 threaded in pairs through the openings 15, with the lengths A; of each pair crossed at predetermined points, to

provide loops 28 through which the ends 25 of the bars project. The portions of the suspension cords between the loops, as indicated at 29, extend between the spaced flanges [4, as shown in Fig. 1. By this structure it will be noted that the suspension cords cross each other in their extension through the space provided by the cut-out portions l2 and are parallel with respect to each other in their passage between the flanges I4. Thus, it will be seen that the musical bars are supported by the loops 28 provided by crossing the cords in this manner centrally within the cut-out portions I2 and have free vibratile action and are suspended free from contact with any part of the Xylophone structure and from such close contact therewith as to transmit the vibratory waves resulting when the musical bars 26 are struck. Thus, the maximum richness of tone is and may be accomplished.

These rubber lengths may be formed of cords having an elastic core within a fabric covering.

In Fig. I have illustrated a modified form of construction. In this form of construction the side frames 39, at corresponding end portions 33, provide a supporting base 34 which comprises an intermediate spacer bar 32 from which depend supporting feet 3'! bent substantially U- shaped to provide upper parallel portions 38 between which the corresponding end portions of the supporting bars and H are positioned, and secured by suitable connecting elements 39.

The opposite end portion 33 of the side frames are connected to lateral extensions 3! of a supporting base .34 by suitable connecting elements 36. These extensions 3| are formed as a continuation of feet 31 bent substantially U-shaped and joined together by an intermediate spacer bar 35 and reinforcing bar 36. These feet 31 provide parallel portions 38 between which adjacent corresponding end portions of the supporting bars 19 and H are mounted and secured by means of connecting elements 39' similar to the connecting elements 39 hereinbefore mentioned.

In this form of construction, the supporting bars if) and II are provided with spaced openings 35 with the walls 34 between the openings provided with parallel openings 29, through which the, portions 29 of the rubber lengths 2'! are positioned. In this form of construction, the loops 28 are arranged in the openings 35 as shown.

The structure illustrated in Fig. 5 is similar to that shown in Fig. l, and in this connection parts of the structure shown in Fig. 5 which are similar to those shown in Fig. 1, are designated by similar reference characters.

The shape of the side bars 23 and 30 may vary, it being the intention, however, that these members be so shaped as to be attractive and thus result in an increased appeal to the eye of the observer.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred form of construction for carrying my invention into effect, this is capable of variation and modification without departing from the spirit of the invention. I, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of such variations and modifications as come within the scope of the appended claim.

Having thus described by invention, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

A musical instrument comprising oppositely disposed supporting members spaced substantially from each other and having struck-out portions providing spaced openings extending in the direction of the length of said members with the openings of one of said members in alignment with the openings of the other of the members, said struck-out portions extending substantially at right angles with respect to the vertical sides of said members and in parallel relation with respect to each other to provide pairs of spaced supporting flanges, musical bars extending transversely between said supporting members through said openings, suspension cords for said bars, said suspension cords being arranged in pairs with respect to each supporting member and having portions providing loops substantially in alignment with and located centrally with respect to said openings, the end portions of said bars extending through said loops, the portions of said cords between said loops extending through perforations formed in said flanges and disposed parallel with respect to each other, and means for connecting said supporting members in said spaced relation with respect to each other.

JOSEPH A. PACKl-IEISER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,210,950 Kohler Jan. 2, 1917 1,29 ,778 Degan Jan. 21, 1919 1,575,960 Bartholomae Mar. 9, 1926 2,317,164 Zimmerman Apr. 26, 1943 2,317,165 Zimmerman Apr. 20, 1943 

